The Parliamentary Commission of Economy approved in principle the new
package based on the government variant. But MP Erion Brace insinuated
that there will be changes.
“We are only voting it in principle. I know you have observations for each of these articles. We will discuss all of them in the days to come. We need to make the necessary differences for which we have spoken during this period”, Brace declared.
The most discussed point is the one that removes excise for energy drinks. The majority had strong reserves against it.
The excise on these products was established this year, but as the Customs Director Elisa Spiropali said, the merchants have avoided the tax.
“They have removed all products that are part of energy drinks. We have referred this at all institutions, the Ministry of Finances and the Ministry of Economy. We have said that the other institutions should carry on investigations for fraud against consumers”, Spiropali declared.
The data show that the declared import of energy drinks fell from 11.000 tons per year in 2013 to 3.300 tons this year. Their price in the market has also increased, making consumers pay a flat tax even though it has not been included in the budget. It all goes in the merchants’ pockets, through a scheme that is similar to that of cigarettes.
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